Elastic storage compartment

ABSTRACT

An elastic storage compartment for holding objects, such as objects used in swimming pools, against a wall or other surface. The storage compartment generally includes a frame with a left member, a right member, and a bottom member where the bottom member connects the right and left members. An adjustable tie line attaches and runs between the top end of the left and right members. The tie line and frame together form a substantially rectangular perimeter, and an elastic net attaches to the tie line and frame and spans the interior of the perimeter. In the preferred embodiment, grommets are attached to the frame, so that the frame can be attached to the wall or other surface with ties. The storage compartment forms a “pocket” against the wall, so that the user may insert objects into the opening between the tie line and the wall, thereby trapping the objects between the wall and elastic net. An optional spring cinch may be provided on the tie line so that the pocket opening may be loosened to receive larger objects and then tightened to secure the objects in the “pocket.”

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of storage devices. Morespecifically, the present invention comprises an elastic storagecompartment which may be used to hold and store objects against fencesand walls.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various storage devices exist for storing inflatable toys and otherobjects used in swimming pools. Conventional examples of these storagedevices include plastic and wooden storage boxes and bins. There aremany complications, however, involved with the storage of these types ofobjects in conventional storage compartments. For example, many of theobjects to be stored are bulky and unconventional in shape. Mostconventional storage devices, on the other hand, are rigid andconventional in shape. Accordingly, a user typically must use a storagedevice that is substantially larger than the object or, if possible,deflate the object prior to storage.

In addition, objects that are used in swimming pools often mold ormildew when left in closed compartments. It is often impractical for theuser to dry the objects before placing them in a storage compartment.Drying the objects by hand can be tedious and time consuming.Furthermore, even the slightest amount of moisture left on the objectmay produce mold, so hand drying the objects is usually ineffective.

For people who use more than one storage compartment to hold theseobjects, finding a particular object among the various compartments canbe cumbersome. In such a situation where one employs multiple storagecompartments, one may often have to open many different compartments andsort through the contents of each compartment before locating the objectthat is sought.

Although these complications are particularly relevant to the storage ofobjects which are used in swimming pools, some of these complicationsare also common in other storage applications. Accordingly, it would bedesirable to have a storage compartment that can hold objects of varioussizes and shapes and will inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.Furthermore, it would be desirable for a storage compartment to beconfigured to allow the user to easily locate a particular object thatis stored in the compartment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention comprises an elastic storage compartment forholding objects, such as objects used in swimming pools, against a wallor other surface. The storage compartment generally includes a framewith a left member, a right member, and a bottom member connecting theright and left members. An adjustable tie line attaches and runs betweenthe top end of the left and right members. The tie line and frametogether form a substantially rectangular perimeter, and an elastic netattaches to the tie line and frame and spans the interior of theperimeter. In the preferred embodiment, grommets are attached to theframe, so that the frame can be attached to the wall or other surfacewith ties. The storage compartment forms a “pocket” against the wall, sothat the user may insert objects into the opening between the tie lineand the wall, thereby trapping the objects between the wall and elasticnet. An optional spring cinch may be provided on the tie line so thatthe pocket opening may be loosened to receive larger objects and thentightened to secure the objects in the “pocket.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the present invention attached toa fence.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing the present invention in use.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   10 elastic storage compartment-   14 tie line-   18 cinch-   22 draw string-   26 pocket-   30 ball-   12 frame-   16 net-   20 grommets-   24 fence-   28 ties-   32 float toy

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, elastic storage compartment 10, is shown inFIG. 1. Elastic storage compartment 10 generally includes frame 12, tieline 14, and net 16. In the preferred embodiment, frame 12 has a leftmember, a right member, and a bottom member which connects the left andright members. These terms are dependent upon the orientation shown inthe view. Generally, they may be called a first side member, a secondside member, and a bridging member therebetween. Tie line 14 attaches tothe top ends of the left and right members, so that the tie line and theframe together form a rectangular perimeter. Net 16 is attached to frame12 and tie line 14 and spans the interior of the perimeter formed byframe 12 and tie line 14.

Frame 12 can be made of any material. In the preferred embodiment, frame12 is made of a strip of a nylon-weave fabric or some other materialthat is suitable for long-term outdoor use. Grommets 20 are attachedaround frame 12 to facilitate attachment of elastic storage compartment10 to the wall. Although grommets 20 are illustrated in FIG. 1, otherattachment means can be used including but not limited to nails, screws,snaps, and tie strings.

Net 16 is preferably made of a relatively loose weave of nylon cords orother material so that net 16 may expand easily to accommodate largeitems. In the preferred embodiment, each cord is highly elastic and candouble in length or more. As shown in FIG. 1, a series of cords can beattached to the left member of frame 12 and the right member of frame 12and woven loosely between tie line 14 and the bottom member of frame 12.Although this configuration is preferred, the reader will appreciatethat other materials and configurations can also be used. For example,net 16 may also be made of mesh. It is generally preferred, however, touse a material that has large enough openings to allow water to easilyescape. Large openings also allow air to easily circulate around objectsthat are stored in elastic storage compartment 10. Employing such amaterial also enables the user to more quickly locate objects that arestored in elastic storage compartment 10, since the contents can beeasily seen.

In addition, cinch 18 may be employed on tie line 14 so that tie line 14may be loosened to allow larger objects to easily be inserted betweennet 16 and the wall. Cinch 18 is preferably a conventional spring-biasedcinch which is configured to cinch tie line 14 when the push button ofcinch 18 is in the unpushed position. To loosen tie line 14, the usersimply pushes the button on cinch 18 and pulls cinch 18 away from thewall. To tighten tie line 14, the user pushes the button on cinch 18,pulls draw string 22 while pushing cinch 18 toward the wall, and thenreleases the button.

The present invention is shown attached to a wall in FIG. 2. In thisillustration, elastic storage compartment 10 is attached to fence 24with ties 28. Ties 28 may simply be strands of rope or string which arewrapped through at least one grommet 20. Rope and string are effectivewhen attaching elastic storage compartment 10 to a fence, because therope or string may be wrapped through grommet 20 and then tied aroundone of the boards in the fence as shown. The same is true if the deviceis to be attached to a chain-link fence except that the rope or stringis tied through one of the links in the chain instead of around a board.If the device is to be attached to a solid wall, screws, nails, hooks orother suitable attachment means may also be used.

Tie line 14 is depicted in the loosened position in FIG. 2 as would becommon before objects are placed behind net 16. The reader willappreciate that pocket 26 is formed between net 16 and fence 24 with anopening between tie line 14 and fence 24. Although elastic storagecompartment 10 is shown with the pocket facing up, the reader willappreciate that the device may be rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees sothat the pocket faces to the side or bottom respectively.

The present invention is shown in use in FIG. 3. Ball 30 and float toy32 are inserted into pocket 26, and then cinch 18 is used to tighten tieline 14 causing ball 30 and float toy 32 to become securely trappedbetween net 16 and fence 24. The reader will appreciate that it is easyto see what objects are stored in elastic storage compartment 10 so thattime is not needlessly wasted searching for objects which are not storedin the compartment. Because a loose weave pattern is used for net 16,both large and small objects can easily be stored in the compartment.

Although the preceding descriptions contain significant detail theyshould not be viewed as limiting the invention but rather as providingexamples of the preferred embodiments of the invention. For example,other attaching means aside from grommet 20 can be used for attachingelastic storage compartment 10 to the wall or other surface (includingnails, screws, nylon wire ties, bungee cords, etc.). In addition,elastic storage compartment 10 can also be made into non-rectangularshapes. These variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should bedetermined by the following claims, rather than the examples given.

1. A storage compartment for holding objects against a surfacecomprising: a. a frame having a first side member, a second side member,a bridging member connected therebetween, and an open side; b. anelastic material attached to said first side member of said frame, saidsecond side member of said frame, and said bridging member of saidframe; c. an attachment means for attaching said frame to said surface;d. wherein said storage compartment forms a pocket with respect to saidsurface when said storage compartment is attached to said surface withsaid attachment means, said pocket having an opening proximate said openside of said frame for inserting said objects into said pocket andtrapping said objects between said elastic material and said surface. 2.The storage compartment of claim 1, further comprising a tie lineconnecting said first end of said frame to said second end of saidframe, said tie line having an adjustment means for tightening saidopening of said pocket with respect to said surface and thereby securingsaid objects between said elastic material and said surface.
 3. Thestorage compartment of claim 1, said elastic material comprising anelastic net.
 4. The storage compartment of claim 1, said attachmentmeans comprising a plurality of grommets attached to said frame.
 5. Thestorage compartment of claim 2, said adjustment means of said tie linefurther comprising a cinch for adjusting the length of said tie line. 6.The storage compartment of claim 1, said attachment means comprising aplurality of ties.
 7. The storage compartment of claim 4, saidattachment means further comprising a plurality of ties.
 8. The storagecompartment of claim 1, said attachment means further comprising aplurality of bungee cords.
 9. A storage compartment for holding objectsagainst a surface comprising: a. a frame having a first side member, asecond side member, a bridging member connected therebetween, and anopen side; b. a tie line attached to and running between said first sidemember and said second side member proximal to said open side, so thatsaid tie line, said first member, said second member, and saidconnecting member together form a substantially rectangular perimeterwith an interior; c. a material spanning said interior of saidsubstantially rectangular perimeter, said material attached to saidfirst side member, said second side member, said bridging member, andsaid tie line; d. an attachment means for attaching said frame to saidsurface; and e. wherein said storage compartment forms a pocket withrespect to said surface when said storage compartment is attached tosaid surface with said attachment means, said pocket having an openingproximal to said tie line for inserting said objects into said pocketand trapping said objects between said material and said surface. 10.The storage compartment of claim 9, said material comprising an elasticnet.
 11. The storage compartment of claim 9, said attachment meanscomprising a plurality of grommets attached to said frame.
 12. Thestorage compartment of claim 9, said attachment means comprising aplurality of ties.
 13. The storage compartment of claim 11, saidattachment means further comprising a plurality of ties.
 14. The storagecompartment of claim 9, said attachment means further comprising aplurality of bungee cords.
 15. The storage compartment of claim 9, saidtie line including an adjustment means for tightening said opening ofsaid pocket with respect to said surface and thereby securing saidobjects between said a material spanning said interior of saidsubstantially rectangular perimeter and said surface.
 16. The storagecompartment of claim 15, said adjustment means of said tie line furthercomprising a cinch for adjusting the length of said tie line.